Bruins AHL prospects update

By Bill Roark

January 10th, 2005

GP

The Boston Bruins currentlyhave just seven true prospects playing for their AHL affiliate in Providence, inthis lockout year.At least two may have madethe big club this year, AndyHilbert and Brad Boyes.Hilbert, soon to be 24, has taken a leadership role on the 2005-06 Bruinsand currently sits atop the team scoring leaders with 42 points in 39 games. His 42 points place him tied for sixth in the overall league scoringrace. He leads the team in goals with 19 and his +10 rating is tied for second on the team.

The 22-year-old Boyes startedon a torrid pace right out of the gates and despite appearing somewhat streakyat times, has managed to almost keep pace with Hilbert with 39 points (14 goals,25 assists) in 39 games.This ranks Boyesninth in the league. His 25 assistslead the team.

Most impressive perhaps are his three game-winning goals.

Another highly touted prospectwho is performing well in spite of the talent infusion into the league is20-year-old goaltender HannuToivonen.He has shown flashesof the dominant presence he can be between the pipes with a record of 16-10-3 in30 games played.In addition to theimpressive record he’s compiled thus far, he has managed to shut out theopposition on three occasions and maintain a miniscule 2.03 goals against averagewith a lofty .934 save percentage.Providencewill continue to rely on him heavily in order to test his stamina andconsistency, which seems to be the least of their worries.

Several other Boston prospectsare now playing for the AHL affiliate with mixed results.Milan Jurcina and MartinSamuelsson are already close to surpassing last year’s point totals inroughly half the number of games played.Jurcina is intriguing as a21-year-old 6’4 defenseman who could potentially developinto a reliable NHLer. Both are +4. KevinDallman, 23, leads the team in points from the blueline with 17. Hisstory will be developing as we watch to see if he can build an all around gamethat will lead to playing time on a higher plateau.

Winger Colton Orr has remained theProvidence Bruins tough guy and will likely continue in that role, as it is hardto ignore his talent as a fighter and instigator.The 22-year-old is fourth on the team with 118 PIMs.

CenterKrisVernarsky and goaltender PeterHamerlik spent a short time in Providence before being reassigned to the ECHL.Hamerlik was loaned to Reading of the ECHL, switching places with CodyRudkowsky, but has not played. The team deep at center, the 22-year-old Vernarsky wasassigned to the Florida Everblades, where he has 13 points in 22 games.

Pos

GP

G

A

Pts

PPG

+/-

PIM

Hilbert

LW

39

19

23

42

1.08

+10

28

Boyes

C

39

14

25

39

1.00

0

25

Dallman

D

30

3

14

17

.57

-1

16

Samuelsson

LW

25

5

4

9

.36

+4

17

Jurcina

D

39

4

8

12

.31

+4

36

Vernarsky

C

5

0

1

1

.20

-2

2

Orr

RW

30

1

2

3

.10

-7

118

GP

W

L

T

SO

GAA

SPCT

Toivonen

30

16

10

3

3

2.03

.934

Hamerlik

3

1

1

1

0

4.02

.877

Copyright 2005 Hockey’s Future. Do notduplicate without permission of the editorial staff.